AS400 / IBM i Application Architect

AS400 / IBM i Application Architect (RPG/ILE)
Work Authorization: USC
Clearance: Active Public Trust Clearance – 6C (required)
Location: Remote

Position Summary
We are seeking a highly experienced AS400 / IBM i Application Architect to own end-to-end architecture, modernization strategy, and technical governance for large-scale IBM i environments.
This role requires deep hands-on expertise in IBM i (AS400), RPG/ILE, CL, and DB2 for i, with strong architectural leadership across legacy modernization, system integration, performance optimization, and operational governance. The architect will be responsible for assessing the full IBM i landscape, including applications, data, batch and online workloads, integrations, security controls, and operational processes—and defining a pragmatic modernization roadmap that enables coexistence with modern platforms such as .NET-based systems.
Experience with Synon is preferred to core IBM i architecture and RPG/ILE expertise. The ideal candidate can modernize and evolve IBM i systems while preserving stability, transaction integrity, and operational SLAs.

Experience Requirements (Mandatory)

• 25+ years of total IT experience
• 15+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, modernizing, or governing IBM i (AS400) enterprise systems
• Deep expertise in RPG/ILE (primary), including architecture-level design, refactoring, and performance tuning
• Strong experience with DB2 for i, batch/online processing, and IBM i operational architecture
• Synon / CA 2E preferred but not mandatory – sufficient depth to assess models, analyze impact, and plan modernization
• Proven experience integrating IBM i systems with .NET or other distributed platforms (coexistence, service enablement, or phased migration)
• Experience leading modernization initiatives in complex, high-volume, mission-critical environments

Core Technical Skills
IBM i / AS400 Architecture & Development (Primary)

• IBM i platform architecture:
  • Subsystems, job queues, workload management
  • Memory, storage, and performance planning
  • Object-level security and authorization models
• RPG III/IV, RPGLE (ILE RPG) – expert-level
• CL / CLLE
• COBOL (nice-to-have)
• DB2 for i:
  • Schema and physical design
  • Indexing and query optimization
  • Journaling and commitment control
• Batch and online processing:
  • Job scheduling and orchestration
  • Throughput tuning and batch window optimization
• SQL on IBM i:
  • Embedded SQL
  • Stored procedures
  • Performance diagnostics and tuning
• Development tooling:
  • RDi (preferred)
  • SEU/PDM (legacy)
  • Compare/merge and change management tools

Integration & Modernization

• Integrate IBM i applications with .NET-based and distributed systems using:
  • APIs and service layers
  • Messaging and event-driven patterns
  • ETL and data synchronization approaches
• Apply modernization patterns:
  • Strangler pattern
  • Service encapsulation
  • Modularization and capability-based migration
• Modernize:
  • User interfaces
  • Batch workloads
  • Reporting and data access layers
• Integration technologies:
  • IBM i Web Services / IWS
  • ODBC / JDBC
  • MQ
  • SFTP and file-based integrations

Key Responsibilities

• Own enterprise and solution architecture for IBM i (AS400) environments
• Assess the full system landscape:
  • Application inventory and dependencies
  • Data models and flows
  • Batch and online processing
  • Integrations and operational controls
• Define target-state architecture connecting IBM i with .NET and other platforms:
  • Integration standards
  • Data governance
  • Service boundaries
  • Security architecture
• Produce architecture deliverables:
  • High-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD)
  • Sequence and integration diagrams
  • Deployment models
  • Operational runbooks
• Lead modernization from RPGbased systems toward service-enabled and modular architectures
• Develop and execute a phased modernization roadmap, including:
  • Stabilization
  • Encapsulation
  • Modularization
  • Service extraction
  • Selective re-platforming
• Make refactoring decisions that preserve:
  • Transaction integrity
  • Auditability
  • Performance SLAs
  • Batch window constraints
• Define and enforce:
  • RPGLE, CLLE, and SQL coding standards
  • API and service design standards
• Lead performance tuning across:
  • DB2 for i
  • Batch parallelization
  • Job orchestration and workload management
• Improve DevOps and ALM practices:
  • Version control
  • Build and release automation
  • Regression testing strategies
• Ensure compliance with Public Trust (6C) security requirements:
  • Least privilege
  • Segregation of duties
  • Logging and monitoring
  • Secure data handling
• Support audits through evidence gathering:
  • Access logs
  • Change and deployment records
  • Approval trails
• Collaborate with security teams on vulnerability management and remediation
• Translate complex legacy constraints into clear, actionable modernization strategies for business and technical stakeholders
• Mentor senior developers and lead technical design reviews and architecture sessions

Employment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship and maintaining an active Public Trust (6C) clearance. The candidate must comply with all federal security and data handling policies.